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(No Mdel.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

P. H. KINDL.

. MACHINE POR MAKING METAL STIRRUPS. No. 879,202. Patented Mar. 8', 1888.

` (No Model.)

y y s sheens-sheete P. H. KINDL. Y MACHINE FOR MAKING METAL STIRRUPS.- No. 379,202. A Patented Mer. 6, 1888.

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3 Sheets-Sheet' 3.

(No Model.) F. E KINDL.

MACHINE POR MAKING METAL STIRRUPS.

Patented Mar. 6,v 1888.

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' UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

FRED H. KINDL,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT BENNETT, OF SAME PLACE.

`NIACHINE FOR MAKING METAL STIRRUPS.

SPECIFICATION foming part of Letters Patent No. 379,202, dated March 6, 1888.

Application tiled May 21, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H; KINDL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Metal Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for forming metal stirrups adapted for use in the construction of buildings as loops or hangers for tying together certain timbers at their respective points of intersection.

The foregoing service of a metal stirrup has required it to consist of a stout metal strap bent into proximately U shape, with each leg having a reverse bend at its terminal portion. The several bends necessary for such contiguration are made rectangular, so as to conform to the corners of the timbers that are to be held together. The legs of this stirrup are moreover twisted to an extent to bring their reversely-bent terminal portions into position'to form at one end of thestirrup a sort of doublepronged clasp, which may engage upon one timber, while another timber set at right angles to the former may fit in the rectangular half-loop at the opposite end of the stirrup.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide improved and simplified means for automatically forming such metal stirrups in a rapid and highly-efficient manner.

Certain objects, more particularly specified in detail, are, to avoid the slow process of twisting by hand-manipulated appliances the legs of the hangenblank bentinto staple form, and to further avoid the liability of breakage or tearing of the blank, and the general complexity and inefficiency of action which would be involved in an attempt to bend and twist the blank by a machine operating to act upon the principle of the hand-twisting operation. To such end I form the twists` in the legs of the staple shaped blank by subjecting the blank at certain points along its length tothe action of dies, which serve to form the twists with certainty and greatv e'liciency, avoid liability of breakage or tearing of the blanks, and generally simplify the construction of this portion of a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described; also, to provide a simple Serial No. 239,015. (No model.)

and efficient arrangement of devices for successively bending the metal strap into staple shape, holding the strap thus bent, and rolling the legs of the bent strap into twists; also, to provide simplilied and otherwise improved means forforming the reverse bends at the ends of the stirrup or hanger; to facilitate the removal of the completed hangers without detaching the former-block from the machine; to provide certain improved features of vconstruction serving to render themachine accurate and rapid in its action; to provide imT proved means for readily adapting the machine to the manufacture of hangers of dil'erent sizes; to provide for great strength and durability of mechanism combined with simplicity of structure, and to provide certain novel and improved details, all tending to increase the general efficiency of the machine.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a top plan view of a stirrup-forming machine involving the principles of my invention, and. illustrates the position in the machine of the strap or bar and a reciprocatory former-block,

A, preparatory to bending the strap or bar upon such block. 'Fig 2 represents in top plan substantially the portion of the machine shown to the left of the line 2 2 in the preceding figure, and illustrates the former-block A Y as having arrived at the limit of its stroke at this end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail mainly representing in top plan view a device whereby one of the rollers for bending the strap upon the former A can be rendered selfadjusting. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a transverse vertical section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 1, with the former-block intermediate of the ends of its stroke and at a point Where the strap will be subject to the action of y devices for giving a qnartertwist to each of' the two sides or legs of thestirrups. Fig. 6 is adetail sectional elevation representingin longitudinal vertical section a portion of the machine on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents an end view of one of the two rollers adapted for servicein twisting the sides or legs of the stirrup and IOO forming the claw-bends at one end ofthe same. Fig. 8 represents a finished metal stirrup. Fig. 9 represents in top plan View the greater portion of the machine to the right of line 2 2, Fig. l, and shows the former-block advanced relatively to the first pair of bendingrollers to an extent sufiicient to cause the strap to be bent around the end of the former-block. Fig. l0 represents a longitudinal vertical section on the line l0 l0. Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but represents the position of the several parts at the completion of the claw-bends at end of the stirrup.

In said drawings, B indicates a suitably-constructed frame or bed, which may be mounted upon any desired support and provided with ways and bearings appropriate for the several operative members of the machine.

The reciprocating former-block A is herein employed in conjunction with a couple of rollers, C, for bending the strap, so as to rst bring it into a sort of rectangular U shape. To such end the rollers C are stationed at a point where the former-block may pass between them, and the former-block is made cfa width corresponding to the desired space between the two sides or legs of the ultimately formed stirrup shown in Fig. 8, wherein d d-represent the said two sides or legs of the stirrup.

The metal strap D, Fig. l, is to be rst placed and firmly held against one end of the block A, so that when the latter is advanced between the pressure-rollers C the strap will be bent around the two vertical corner edges and brought opposite the two vertical sides of the block, as in Fig. 9, the horizontal width or thickness of the block at said end serving to determine the length of the strap portion dv between the two rectangular bends di, and to thereby determine the width of the stirrup, which, of course, corresponds to the size of timber it is to receive. y

The strap, when placed in position across the end of the block, as in Fig. l, has a length of its middle portion equal to the width of suchy block held against the latter by a suitable jaw or abutment, A', between which and the end of the block the strap will be firmly held, in order that it may be accurately bent around the two vertical corner edges of this end of the block.

The block A and the jaw or abutment A are carried by a reciprocating table or slide-plate, A2, which, while serving as a sliding base or vehicle for supporting and reciprocating the block or jaw, is also adapted for service as a formen to be used in conjunction with devices, hereinafter described, for shaping certain portions of the stirrup.

As a means for giving to each side or leg d of the stirrup the partial twist shown at d", Fig. 8, the sliding base plate or block A2 is provided with a pair of lugs or raised projections, A3, which respectively lie at opposite sides of and set up to the block A when the latter is in position for bending the strap. Theselugs or raised projections are each shaped in conformity to the twist that is to be given to the dat strap or bar, and serve as male dies for operating in conjunction with corresponding female dies E, each formed by a suitablyshaped recess or eoncavity in one of a couple of rollers, E, that are set apart to an extent to permit the block, with the strap bent thereon, to pass between them, but to bring the female dies E down upon the male dies A3 at a moment proper for taking the two sides or legs of the partially-formed stirrup and rolling the same into the quarter twists shown in Fig. 8.

The conjoint action of the dies A3 and E is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the two legs ot' the partially formed stirrup are shown in cross-section between the dies.

The distance between the end of the block A, against which the strap is to be held, and the end of the base A2 (shown to the right in several of the figures) is such as to permit thev end portions, d, of the strap to extend beyond such base after the strap has been bent, as in Fig. 9, and twisted, as in Fig. 8, in order to leave the end portions of the strap free to be bent to form the reverse bends d4. After the formation of the twists d3 by the dies, the lengths of strap between such points of twist and their end portions that extend beyond the base will, by the action of the rolls E', be rolled down ina dat condition upon the base alongside the two vertical sides of the block A, after which the said projecting end portions of the strap will be bent around the end of the base, as illustrated in Fig.'l1, so as to form the claws or reverse bends d* at one end of the stirrup. As a means for forming lthese rectangular reverse bends (Z4, each roller, E', is provided with a radially-disposed jaw, E2, adapted, when the said end of the base is below and substantially in vertical line with the axis of ICO the roller, to clamp a free-end portion of the y strap against both the vertical end face and the bottom horizontal face of the base,`as in said Fig. 11. Frein the foregoingit will be understood that the strap is to be first placed across the slide or reciprocating base, and for a certain length along its middle portion held firmly against an end of the block A; that the two free lengths of the strap are then by means of suitable rollers bent inwardly or toward one another in order to form the two rectangular bends d2 at one end of the stirrup and thereby bring the strap into a proximately rectangular U or staple shape; that the two flat sides or legs of the staple-shaped strap are then rolled into quarter turns or twists d3,so as to bring one portion of each leg or side into a plane at right angles to the plane of its remaining portion; and that the end or terminal portions of the strap are then forged or forced into the shape of the reverse bends d* by certain dies or jaws, whereof the end of the base A2 affords at such time a stationary jaw for each of the two movable jaws E2.

The block A is desirably made either movable upon or removable from the base A2, the

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feature of movability being mainly to permit the completed stirrup to be removed. In addition, however, to such feature, the block is preferably detachably held upon the base in order that blocks of different widths can be employed, it being understood that the width ofthe half-loop portion at one end of the stirrup is determined by the width or thick ness of the block whereon the bends d2 are formed.

As a simple and efficient way of holding the strap against one end of block A as long as may be necessary, and of permitting the introduction of the strap in the first instance into the machine, as well as the subsequent ready removal of the completed stirrup, the block A is herein hinged at one end to the abutment A', which may be fixed upon the the sliding base A2. In this way the block A can be swung up ,as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 10, and the strap laid across the vertical face of the fixed jaw or abutment A, after which the block can be brought down into a horizontal position, as shown in full lines. rllhe strap will then be practically clamped for a portion of its length between a pair ofjaws, whereof the former-block provides a jaw upon which the bends di are to be formed.

The block A can be held in position in any suitable way-as, for example, the base Aican be provided with one or more teeth, a, Fig. 10, which, when the block is lowered, will be received in corresponding notches in the block.

After the stirrup has been formed the block A can of course be moved from its position on the base by simply again swinging it up to an extent to free the completed stirrnp. As a means for reciprocating the block A the slid- 'ing base A2, whereou it is mounted, is arranged to reciprocate along suitable ways, b, on the bed B, and is provided with rack-bars F, which will preferably be adjustably secured to theI reciprocating base A2. These racks F are engaged by the feed or driving gears G, which, to render the machine compact and apply the power in an efficient manner, are arranged alongside the rolls E and mounted so that both the rolls and the feed gears may revolve about a common axis. Under such arrangement the rolls E and gears G should all be of about a uniform size or diameter in order to insure uniformity of action-that is to say, to cause the rolling action of the rolls to keep pace with the speedvof the moving base A2 during the advancement of the latter, and hence not only bring the die-faces AJ and E into proper cooperative relationship at the required moment, but also avoid any undue pull or tear of the strap during the operation of rolling it to form the twists d. rIhe rolls C are held at such distance apart that when the advancing block A passes between them their action upon the strap shall serve to force the free portions thereof arou nd the vertical corners ofthe block, as illustrated iu Fig. 9. Vhere the rolls C consist of straight cylind ric rolls, it is necessary to provide means whereby they may stand back and out of the way of the raised die portions A3 at times when such raised die portions pass the points where therolls are stationed. To the attainment of such end the rolls are mounted upon movable bearings H, which at proper moments are automatically shifted in directions lateral to the line of feed, so as to place the rolls C out of the way of the raised die portions A3.

Each movable bearing H consists of a suitably-formed slideblock. which is properly guided upon the main bed frame B, a convenient form of guideway being herein formed by a pair of raised guides, I, and a pair of raised guides, I', with space between the two pairs for the operation of cani-slide K, arranged for shift-ing the block or bearing H. The camslide K works throughI a passage, h, Fig. 4, that is formed through the slide block or bearing H, and has its cam-face k maintained in opposition to a small roller, h', that is arranged within the passage through the block or bearing and desirably mounted in an adjustable bearing-piece, h2. These cam slides K may of course be operated in a variety of ways, but as asimple arrangement are actuated from the feed-gears G, to which end each gear is provided with an arm or finger, g, Fig. 6, arranged to engage in a notch, 7c', in the caiirslide.

These devices are so -timed that at a proper moment during the advancement of the block A and base A2 (which for some purposes may be regarded as a whole as a reciprocating former) the cam -slides will be drawn forward, so as to bring theirlow or narrower portions opposite the rollers h', and hence permit the bearings H to be pushed back and out ot' the way by`the pressure of the advancing strap. Upon a return movement, however, of the former the bearings H will be returned to their first positions by the action of the camslides. j

It will be evident that while proximately conical or hemispherical rolls employed in place of the straight rolls C might serve to clear the raised die portions A3 without necessitating this automatic adjustment of the rolls, such arrangement would faill to properly finish the bends d2 of the stirrup, and hence that' the s*raight cylindric form ot' roll herein employed is desirable. After the two portions of the strap have been rolled into the twists d the parts of the strap lying tlat upon the base A2 beyond the points of twist may be kept up to the block A with their inner edges adjacent to the vertical sides of the block, either by the rolls C or by guides L, herein formed with or secured to the adjustable bearings H. In case these guides L are employed, their guidingfaces will lie parallel with the line of feed and about tangential to the rolls C, as shown in Fig. 3.

In order to readily loosen the bent ends d4 of the strap or piece forming the stirrup from the end of the base A2 after the ends of the strap have been thus bent by the jaws E, the

lower face of the base at such end is (when thev base is at the end of its forward stroke) tem- IOO 1rol

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' or wedges.

porarily formed by a fiat plate or piece, c3, secured to the bed B and arranged to extend transversely across the same in position to nicely fit against the under side of the base A2 at the end of the forward stroke ofthe lat ter, as shown in Fig. 1l. The terminals of the strap will therefore in reality be forced to lap under this piece a, whereby when the base A is moved back the reverse bends will leave the stationary piece a, and hence be left loose upon the end of the base. rlhe result is, however, obviously the same as though the end portion ofthe base AI were temporarilyincreased to the required thickness by a piece or plate similar to the piece c3, but removably or adj nstably secured to the base A2, and forced back from the end of such base at any time after the formation of the reverse bends d* of the stirrup. Hence, for the broader purposes of this invention the reverse bends may be consid` ered as formed upon the'end of the base A?, of which the plate a temporarily forms a part.

For different sizes oi" stirrups different sizes of block A can be employed, as hereinbefore stated. In order to adjust the die portions A3 in position with reference to different sizes of blocks A, the top face of the base A2 can be formed of one or more removable plates, c',

'each provided with a raised die portion, A,

These plates can bev as best shown in Fig. 5. temporarily secured on the base A'z by bolts, and while so applied may be considered as a part of the base. The rollers E will of course be adjustably mounted, so that they can be set with reference to the size of block A employed,

to which end they are herein secured by bolts or screws e upon a rotary shaft, E3, which is desirably squared between its rounded ends or journals, so as to key both the gears G and the rolls E thereon without the necessity of splines Zhen the reciprocating base A2 reaches the end of its forward stroke and has brought its end whereon the bends d* are formed directly under the rolls E', it is desirable that the gears G should clear the racks F, so as to prevent further forward movement of thesaid base during the operation of forming` these bends. To such end the racks are adjusted longitudinally upon the base A2 in a manner to permit the racks to leave the gears G at the proper moment. The reciprocating base A2, however, abnts against a stop, M, at the end of its forward stroke, which said stop holds the base AL solid against the action of the jaws E. The stop is adj ustably secured to the main bed frame B,whereby, for different lengths of stirrups, it may be adjusted toward or away from lthe rollers, as may be foundV necessary.

In order to move the reciprocating base back from its forward position to an extent to again bring the racksinto engagement with the gears, the block A can be provided upon its top side with a lng or tooth, at, adjustably secured to the block, and the rotary shaft E3 provided j with a radial lng or tooth, l, which is herein formed upon a collar, Z, secured by a bolt or set-screw upon a rounded middle portion of the said squared shaft E3. The object of the tooth on the shaft is to engage the tooth on the block A at the initial back movement of the rotary shaft after the completion of the stirrup, whereby the slide A2 will be moved back to an extent to bring the 'racks into engagement with the gears G. The collar Z is susceptible of rotary adjustment on the shaft, and hence can be adjusted so as to set the tooth Z with reference to any required adjustment of the tooth on the block A.

As a means for increasing the power of the machine,the rotary shaft E, whereon the gears G and rolls E are secured, can be driven through the medium of certain gearing intermediate of the gears G and a power-driven r0- tary shaft, N, herein extended through the shaft E, which is provided with an axial bore for the reception of said shaft N. The rotary shaft N carries acouple of gears, P, one at each end of the shaft, which said gears are respectively connected with the next adjacent gears G by the intermediate gears, Q and R. Thus, a small gear, P, secured on one end of shaft N, engages a larger gear, Q, secured on fr short axle, S, to which is also secured a small gear, R, arranged to engage the gear G nearest said gear P, the gear P at the opposite end of the shaft being similarly connected with the other one of the two gears G.

The shaft N is herein shown provided with a crank-handle, but is of course understood to be driven in any desired way.

In operating this machine the metal bar or strap is preferably first properly heated and then placed in position which can be deter` mined by an adjustable gage, D, and the machine then started up and the former advanced until the work is completed.

It will be understood that in certain of the claims the term former7 comprehends substantially the base and the block, which as a whole constitute a former adapted to the ultimate shape of the stirrup, it being seen that the rollers, the upper diefaces, E, and the jaws serve to shape the strap upon such form er.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, male and female dies for forming the herein-described twists in thc legs of the stirrups, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for forming metal stirrups substantially as described, the combination, with the die-faces A3, raised upon a reciproeating base, of the rollers provided with corresponding depressed die-faces, E, for twisting the two sides or legs of the metal stirrup, substantially as described, and means for holding the work subject to the action of said diefaces during the movement of the reciprocating base. v

3. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, the jaws E2, carried by oscillatory supports, combined with a former, whereon said jaws may bend the ends ofa strap to form the reverse bends d* in the stirrup, substantially as described.

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4. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, a reciprocating formerblock whereon the metal strap or blank can be bent into staple shape, rolls C, for bending the metal strap into staple shape upon said reciprocating former-block during the passage of the latter between the rolls, and dies for rolling the legs of the staple-shaped strap into twists while such bent strap is heid upon the former-block, said members being combined and organized for operation, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for forming metal stirrups, the movable block A, combined with a reciprocating base provided with means for holding the strap against an end of the block, rollers G, for bending the strap thus held against opposite sides ot' the block, the raised diefaces A3 at opposite sides of the block, and rollers provided with corresponding depressed die-faces, E, for twisting the portions of the strap brought by the rollers C alongside the block, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, the combination, witha reciprocating base provided with raised die portions A3, of means for holding upon such base and between said die portions a strap or bar bent to form the two angular bends d2, and the rollers provided with depressed die-faces E and with jaws E2, said depressed die-faces in the rollers being adapted for co-operation with the die-faces on the reciprocating base, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, the block A, movably held upon a reciprocating base that is provided with raised die-faces A3, for the purpose set forth, in combination with the rollers C, mounted in adjustable bearings, whereby the rollers may retreat when in opposition to the raised diefaces on the reciprocating base, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, a roller, C, mounted upon a sliding block or bearing, in combination with a cam-slide for shifting said bearing in one direction, and a driving-wheel provided with an arm engaging the cam-slide, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for forming metal stirrups suchas described, the reciprocating base provided with raised die-faces A3, removably held upon said base, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, the former-block A, hinged at one end and arranged with its hinged end opposite an abutment, A', set to provide an intervening space between the two, whereby after a strap or blank has been bent into staple shape upon the block A the latter can be swung up to clear the strap without detachment of the block from the support to which it is attached, substantially as described.

ll. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such 'as described, the reciprocating base provided with a jaw or abutment, A', combined with. a block, A, hinged at one end to said abutment, but leaving between the abutment and the hinged end of the jaw a space for receiving a metal strap or bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12.V In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, a reciprocating base provided with a former-block combined with rolls C, for bending a strap or blank into staple shape upon the former-block, means adapted for rolling the legs of the stapleshaped strap into twists, and comprising die-faces, respectively, on the reciprocating base, and a pair of ro1ls,between which said rolls the former-block passes during the reciprocation of said base, and gears G, engaging racks upon the reciprocating base, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for forming metal stirrups, such as described, the reciprocating former, substantially as described, provided with racks F, and in combination with .the gears for engaging the racks, and the jaws E?, mounted on rotary supports, said members being organized whereby the jaws shall act to bend the ends of a strap upon the former after the racks are clear of the gears, substantially as described.

14. In a machinefor forming metal stirrups such as described, the reciprocating former, substantially as described, provided with racks F and a tooth, a, in combination with Vthe gears G, for engaging the racks, and the tooth Z, heldA upon a shaft, whereon said gears are mounted and arranged for engaging the tooth a2, in order to move the reciprocating former from its extreme forward position back to an extent to bring the racks into engagement with the gears, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for forming metal stirrups such as described, the combination, with a reciprocating former, substantially as set forth, provided with racks, of the gears G, engaging said racks, a gear, P, on a power-driven shaft passing axially through a rotary shaft whereon the gears G are secured, and a set of gearing between the gears P and G, substantially as speciiied.

FRED H. .KINDL Witnesses:

Guns. G. PAGE, L. S. LOGAN.

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